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Monday, March 25, 2019, during homeroom, all 9th grade students will participate in a wellness screening. The goals of the screening include:
- Helping students understand that depression is a treatable illness
- Helping students assess whether or not they may have some symptoms related to depression
- Explaining that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression
- Providing students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend
- Impressing upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns
Your student’s counselor or a member of the clinical team will discuss common warning signs of depression and suicide risk, as well as be provide strategies for helping your student or a friend seek help. Students will complete a depression screening questionnaire. This form will only be viewed by the depression screening team and students will be identified only by their ID number.
If you do NOT wish for your student to take a written wellness screening and participate in wellness screening, please complete this Google Form. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your student has permission to participate in this program.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below and if you have further questions, feel free to contact Danielle Armstrong, school social worker at dsarmstrong@fcps.edu or 703-750-5066. Thank you for your support in this important initiative.
What will my son/daughter do if he/she has opted-out of the program?
There will be an alternative location designated within the building for students who have opted-out of the screening program to have a study hall. The screening program will last approximately 40 minutes during a homeroom period, after which students who have opted out may return to their class.
Who is on the depression screening team?
The screening team is comprised of the student services department (counselors and Director of Student Services), the school psychologist, the social worker, the special education coordinator, the school public health nurse, and the systems of support advisor. Only counselors, school psychologist, and school social worker, who have specific clinical training, will meet with students for follow-up. Other team members will support the administration of the screening.
What becomes of the questionnaire after the screening?
Student responses on the questionnaire will be kept confidential at all times. Student privacy is enhanced by using ID only as an identifier on the forms. For students who require follow-up, the questionnaire will be used as a reference point for discussion and interview with the student/parents. Parents and guardians may have access to their student’s form when their student is determined to be at-risk. Only non-identifiable data will be collected by the screening team (e.g. number of students screened, number requiring follow-up, etc.). This data will be shared with the TJ community after completion of the screenings. All non-at-risk questionnaires will be shredded once students have received necessary intervention.
I have more questions and would like to speak to someone—who should I reach out to?
Please direct further questions about the wellness screening program to Danielle Armstrong. Remember that if you are not completely comfortable with this screening program, you have the right to decline your student’s participation by completing the Google Form or by e-mailing Danielle Armstrong at dsarmstrong@fcps.edu.
However, please also realize that it is FCPS policy that any time a concern is brought to the attention of school staff that represents a potential threat to your student’s safety or the safety of other persons in the school, it may be necessary to conduct a risk assessment prior to receiving parent consent.
6560 Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 | Main Office: 703.750.8300
Attendance: 703.750.8315 | Web | Twitter
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